Hat-finishing machine



Nov. 19, 1929.

l. vPLA-r1 HAT FINI SHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L MMM als WTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1929. PLATT 1,736,361

HAT FINISHING MACHINE Filed DGG- 8, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /3 y f di@ www ATTORNEYS eii'ort in forcing the blank into tight contact Patented` Nav. 19,1929" UNiTEDsTATEs PATENT OFFICE LOUIS PLATT, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 PLATT HAT MACHINE CORPORATION,

` A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK HAT-rrmsmne MAGHINE Application led December This invention relates to the manufacture of felt hats and in particular to the finishing of such hats by the several operations of blocking, pouncing, brushing, etc. More spe- 5 ciiically, the invention is concerned with a machine provided with instrumentalities by which .these various finishing operations may be successively performed at a highrate of production and with a minimum of attention on the part of the o erator.

In the finishing o felt hats as now carried on, the different operations are performed manually on the -felt blanks, or else machines are used which require constant attention on the part of the operator. The hat blanks of rough felt of generally conical shape are first blocked to give the blank its proper final form and for this purpose the felt is steamed to render it pliable and easily worked, then the blank is pulled over a block or form having the inside shape of the finished hat, and an outer form or block is placed in position over the hat. The placing of the blank on the block is'done by an operator who grasps the edges of the blank and exerts considerable muscular with the block. As the force required for this purpose cannot be applied evenly all around the edge of the blank, it frequently happens thatthe blank is strained or stretched and in some instances the edges may be torn. The blocks are heated so as to drive olf the moisture and press the hat to shape, and this drying operation consumes-a considerable eriod of time. As a consequence, the blocklng operation is necessarily slow and laborious and it is ldifiicult by present means for an operator to produce hats` of highest quality.

After the blocking operation the next treatment given the hats is -pouncing "which involves grinding off the surface of the felt so that the felt may be of uniform thickness. The rough blanks are frequently of uneven thickness and the surface may not be uniform, so that pouncing is a necessary operation. Pouncing is normally carried on by placing the blank on a suitable form and rotating the latter while the workman operates on the surface of the felt with an abrasive tool. This treatment also consumes agreat deal of time,l

8, 1927. Serial No. 238,493.

because the wor man has to determine by'his f eye the extent to which the hat must be round. Sometimes the grinding may result 1n holes being ground in the felt, and in that event the hat must be discarded. Follow# ing the pouncing operation,the hat is inished by brushing, buiiing, and various other operations are performed on. it to raise the nap of the feltand give the felt surface the deslred lustre. These operations are also manually performed and with present labor costs add corsiderably to the cost ofthe finished artic e. To overcome the diiiiculties involved in the use of manual labor for these finishing operations, and also to reduce the cost of the finishing treatment, and to raise the quality of the hats so produced, I have devised a machine which includes instrumentalities by which these variouso erations can be carried out successively so tiiat a hat blank may be placed in the machine and without removal therefrom acted on successively .by blocking,

pouncing, brushing, and other devices. This lvise a number o'f such machines, thus reduc-- ing labor charges to a great extent.

' In the new machine thereris provided a 1 pair of cooperating blocks suitably heated and movable by power into'operative relation. The blank, previously steamed, 1s placed over one of these blocks and the edges of the blank are introduced between the jaws of a multi-A plicity of gripping devices, arranged in a series around devices are so arranged that the operator with a single movement can cause all the gripping jaws-to engage the edges of the blank and to ull the blank tightly upon the block. The lank is thus forced on the block without un- Lequal strains being'p'laced on the. felt, and the time involved in this partpof the blocking operation is Vreduced to a 'minimum The operator now startsother mechanism which the edge of the block. These sired form.

2 Maasai causes the second block to be htted over the` side ol the opening.. The other ends of the blank in osition on the rst. These blocks lever are connected to a rod-23 which is proare suitably shaped to press the hat to devided at its lower end with a block 24 having teeth along one edge which may be engaged While the pressing and drying operations with similar teeth in a standard 25 attached are going on, the operator may place other to the door. The block 24 is provided with blanks in similar machines by the same opera treadle 26 and by depression ot the treadle, ations and, after a number ot machines have the lever 20 may be swung on its pivot to been started, he returns to the lirst and by a/diderent positions relative to the under sursimple manipulation ot the mechanism causes tace ol the table. 1 the blocks to separate, while the blank is re- I Mounted on the upper end oit the shalt 13 tained on the one on which it was originally above the top of the table is an inner block disposed. The pouncing mechanism is now or form 27 having the shape ot the interior brought into operatiin and 'for this purpose of the hat to be produced. This block is the block carrying the blank is caused to preferably of metal, such as aluminum or rotate and a pouncing device moved to effecthe like, and inside it is a heating element 28, tive position. This device is arranged to grind which is here illustrated as an electric resist od the surface of the felt evenly so that the ance mounted on a hollow rod 29 which proelt has a uniform thickness. Following the jects through'the interior of the hollow shaft pouncing operation, other devices are brought 13, the resistance unit being supplied with successively into operation, and these devices current through cahles 30 extending through feo oo bracket is generally of U-shape and between gripping laws, the edges of the blan operatiomand may include means for brushing the felt, the rod 29. means for buing the felt, and mechanisms Disposed beneath the block 27 on the shaft for performing various other operations 13 is a collar 31 xed on the shalt. Below this 'incident to nishing the hat. All of these fixed collar is a collar 32 slidable on the shaft devices require no attention on the part ot but rotatable thereby, this collar carrying a the operator, except bringing them succesplurality of links 33 pivotallv mounted in sively into action, and the element of skill the periphery thereof. Each link 33 is coriis thus eliminated so that an operator of little nected to an arm 34.; which terminates in a training may use this machine to produce gripping jaw 35. Pivotally mounted on the hats of the highest rade., arm 34 at 36," is another gripping member 37 For a better un erstanding of the invenyterminating in a jaw 38 which coacts with tion, reference may be had to the accompanytle jaw 35. The member 37 has a tail 39 which rests beneath the under vsurface of the ing drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the machine in vertical I collar 31. A spring 40 attached to the under elevation' lwith certain parts shown in secsurface of the base of block 27 at one end is tion', e attached at the other end'to the gripping Fig. 2 isa sectional view on the line 2-2 of p member 37 and another spring 42 is attached Fig. 1, l at one end tothe block 27 at a point near the Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view ofthe shaft 13 and at its other end is attached to lower blockshowing the pouncing device in the member 37 at a istancefrom the pivot l 36. The collar 32 has n extension 43 beneath,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, butshowwhich is provided with a circumferential a modilication.- v channel 44; and a pair of links 45 attached to n the drawings the machine is illustrated the .two parts of the lever 20 midway of its as includin a support 10 of any suitable ends are provided with pins attheir free form, here illustrated as a table which in. ends, which enter the chgnnel on opposite cludes legs. 11 and abcd plate 12. Mounted sides. in suitable bearings below the bed, plate and The gripping jaws 35 and 38 have faces of lextending therethrough is a hollow shaft 13 considerable extent, as, :for example, these having a bevel gear 14 near its lower end faces may be 1 x 2", and each gripping which'meshes with a bevel pinion 15 on the ymember 38 is provided with a tooth 46 lying v shaft of a driving motor 16 mounted at any below the gripping surface.

17 secured to the legs 11. The table '12 has a in the position shown in Fig. 1,` the conical central opening 1 8 through which the shaft felt blank 47 is placed by the operator in passes and the u per end of the shaft is jourthe position illustrated and with its edges 4naled in a. brac et 19 depending from the lying between the open gripping jaws 35 and under surface of the table and attached there- 38. In order that the\blank may be held to at either side of" the opening 18. This firmly in position until it is seized b the are its legs extends a. two-part lever 20 straddling engage n the spikes 46. There are a numthe shaft 13 and pivotally mounted at one ber of grippin devices disposed about the end on a pin 21 in a bracket 22 depending periphery of t e block, preferably six', so from the under surface of the table at one that theblank will be grasped at a. plurality l v convenient point, as, for example, on a bracket L With'this arrangement and with the parts l of points which are relatively closely space'd. .After the hat blank has been placed inposition, the operator depresses the treadle '26', causing the collar 32 to be pulled downwardly. This movement is transmitted through the links 33, causing the gripping members 34 to swing on their pivots 36, so that the gripping surfaces 35 and.38 are brought into cooperating relation. This action takes place shortly7 .after the commencement of the depression of the treadle and further downward movement of the treadle causes the collar 32 to draw both springs 40 and 42 raise the parts \to theirgripping devices downward to the position illustrated in Fig. 3. The pulling action of the gripping devices causes the hat blank to be drawn tightly over the top of the block 27, and in their lowermost position the grippers lie below the flat peripheral rim 48 of the block. In such downward movement the jaw 38 bears continuously against'the edge ofthe member 48, the latter having a depending flange 41 providing an abutment for the jaw when the latter is in its lowermost position. When the treadle is released, the

original position, the jaws opening as shown in Fig. 1.

After the hat blank has been drawn over the block 27 in the manner described, an outer block 49 is moved to" cooperating relation with the inner block.- 'The block 49 is mounted on a cross-head 50 provided with flanged slides 51 movable vertically on guideways 52 supported on standards 52 which extend upwardly from the bed 12 of the table. The block is supported on springs 53 from V the under surface of the cross-head, so that the block has a certain free'dolm'of movement with reference to its support. j Therblock is made of metal and carries a heating device, which may conveniently take the form of heating coils 54 wound around the outside of the block. the lower end of a shaft 55, the end of the shaft being squared, as indicated at 56, and

projecting through a boss on the cross-head and held in place by a nut 58 on its lower i end. The upper end of the shaft 55 is threaded andv the threaded end projects through a central bore in a gear 58, the inner face of which bore is also provided with a thread. The gear'58 rests on a row of balls 59 .lying between the undersurface of the gear and the upper surface of a top plate 60 extending between and supported on the standards 52. The gearhas a tubular extension1 61 passing through a central opening in the\plate 60 and at its lower end this extension has a collar 62 between whichand the under surface of the top. plate is another row of balls 63. With this arrangement the gear may rotate freely and dependent on its direction of rotation, the screw shaft 58 is raised or lowered and withit the cross-head The cross-head is mounted on 50. A pinion 64 attached to the shaft of a motor 65 mounted on the top plate 60 meshes with the gear 58, whereby the motor may raise and lower the cross-head under control of the operator. The motor is controlled by means of switches 66 and 67, mounted on standards 52. 'The switch 66 -is disposed a considerable distance from the top of the standards while the switch 67 is placed close to the standards. Each of the slides 5'1`is provided with a trip arm 68 and the switch to, start the motor and the switch being 'moved to olf positidn at the upper limit of travel ofthe cross-head by trip arm 68 engaging the switch lever. The springs 53 the" setting of these blocks, without requiring that the travel of the cross-head be exactly adjusted. j

g After the hat blank has been drawn on the permit variations in the block used'and l lower block and the upper block lowered to l cooperative position, the parts are allowed to remain in this position until the hat has been lpressed and all the moisture driven off by the heating elements. During this period the operator may this same type. After the hat has been blocked, the motor 65 is started to raise the cross-head and upper block clear of the blank, and the machine is now ready for lthe remaining operations. The first of these operations is pouncing and for this purpose there is employed a slide 69 mounted between suitable guides 70 and movable toward and away rom the axis of rotation of the shaft 13. Y The slide 69 is normally forced toward the axis of the shaft 13 by means of a spring 71 connected to one-of the standards 52 and to an extending arm 72 at the back of the slide. Any sfuitable means (not` shown) are provided for maintaining the slide in lits inoperative osition illustrated in Fig. 1, these means being releasable so that the slide-can be moved by the spring toward theblock. The slide attend to other machines of has a curvature on its forward face 73 corresponding closely to the curvature of the outer surface of the block 27 and differentL slides will be used for di'erent types of hats. The slide has a channel (not shownlformed in its curved face into which a .strip of abrasive material 7 4 may be readily inserted, the channel permitting the abrasive strip to behreadily removed and replaced, while at the same time holding the strip firmly against movement in the pouncing operation'. l

As the block 27 is normally of oval crosssection, means are provided for giving the slide a movement toward and away from the axis of the shaft 13 as the block is rotated in order that the abrasive material may act on the hat with uniform pressure. For this purpose a cam ring 75 is mounted' by means of arms 76 on the collar 31, the ring having an oval configuration corresponding exactly to the oval cross-section of the block. The slide 69 is provided with a wheel 77 which is positioned so as to bear against the surface of the cam ring when the slide is in operative position, the spring 71 holding the wheel firmly against the surface 75. When the pouncing operation is to be carried on, the

operator first causes the blocks to be separatedv and then, by means of a switch 78 disposed at any convenient placel on the machine, starts the motor 16. This causes the rotation of the block 27 with the hat upon it. The locking means for the slide 69 are then released and the slide is moved toward the axis of the shaft' f desired thickness., This pouncing operation requires no attention on the part of the oper-,

ator and after he has placed the parts in operative position for this purpose he may give his attention elsewhere until the pouncing operation is completed.

When the pouncing operation has been fini .ished various other operations mayv beperformed on the blank, such for .instance as buiiing the surface of the blank with a feltcovered tool. For this pur ose the slide 7 9, disposed at one side of the s ide 69 on the bed of the machine may be employed, this slide having a curved face simil to the face 73, on which face is mounted a ayer 80 of buiing material. A similar slidel 81 disposed at a distanceto the slide 69 may also be provided, this slidecarryingia brush 82 in place of the abrasive or buiing material. The slides 69, 79, and 81 are of the same eneral construction, each of these slides aving a curved face correspondin to the contour of a block and being provi ed with wheels similar to the wheel 77 bearing against the cam ring 75, whereby the slides may move in and out in correspondence with the rotation of the oval block.

Instead of using a stationary brush grinding surface or the like, I may use a rotating p Maasai member for this purpose, as shown in Fig. 4. In this construction a slide 83 similar to slides .69, etc., is employed but mounted on the slide on a vertical shaft 85 is a rotational brush 86 grinding roll or the like, the outersurface of which conforms to the outer surface of the block 27. This tool may be driven by means of a pulley 87 and belt 88 from any convenient source of power, and performs various operations, depending on the character of the surface with which 1t is provided.

In order that the gripping devices may be employed with blocks of different construction, the arrangement illustrated in F ig. 4

may be utilized. In Vthis construction the 'links 34 are made in two parts which partially overlap andare connected by means of a slot and in construction, generally designated 89. he two parts of the links may be moved relative to each other and set in different osi. tions of adjustment, depending on the s ape of the block. The" gripping member 37 is provided with a tail 390i considerable length, so that regardless of where the pivot 36 is placed in each instance, a portion of the tail 39 will engage the under surface of the collar 31.l The construction is otherwise the same as that previously described.

I claim': 1. A machine for finishing hats which comprises the combination of a block adapted to receive a hat blank, a'plurality ofy gripping means associated with the block operable to grasp the edges of the blank and movable in a direction parallel-to the axis of said block to draw the blank into tight engagement with the block, a second block adapted to cooperate with the first, and power-driven means for effecting relative movement of the block into and out of cooperating relation.

2. A machine for finlshingihats which comprises the combination of a block adapted toI receive a hat blank, a plurality of pairs of gripping jaws associated with the block and distributed about theperiphery thereof, the

jaws of each pair being relatively-movable to grip the blank and the pairs being movable simultaneously and asa unit ina direction. arallel to the axis of said block to draw the lank into tight engagement with the with the first, means for heating the blocks, and ower-driven means for giving the blocks a re ative movement into and out of cooperating relation.' v

3. A machine for finishing hats which con1- prises the combination of a block adapted to receive a hat blank, means associated-therewith and operabley to engage the edges of the blank and movable in a direction parallel to the Vaxis of said block to draw the blank into tight enga ement with the block, a second block mova le into 'cooperating` relation with the first, power-driven means for effecting the movement `of the second block relative to the first, and individual heating means forthe blocks. e

4. ln a machine for finishing hats, the combination of a block adapted to receive a hat blank, a plurality of gripping devices disposed about the periphery of the block, means for operating the devices to cause them to grip the blank, the said means thereafter operating to move the devices as a unit to draw l the blank into tight engagement with the block, and means for rotating the block and gripping devices while the blank is held tightly thereon by said gripping devices.

5. In a machine for finishing hats, the combination of a block adapted to receive a hat blank, a rotary shaft on which the block is mounted, a plurality of gripping devices mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and projecting beyond the periphery of the block, means for rendering the gripping devices effective to grasp the edge of the blank placed on the block, said means also being operative to move the gripping devices as a unit to draw the blank into tight engagement with the block, means for rotating said shaft, and a tool operable to perform work on said blank as the block is rotated.

' 6. In a machine for finishing hats, the combination of a block adapted to receive a hat blank, a shaft on which the block is mounted, a plurality of gripping devices associated with the block at the periphery thereof and mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith,

Y means for moving. the gripping devices to 35 effect engagement with the edges of the blank and for moving the devices as a unit to draw the blank into tight engagement with the' block, means for lockingthe gripping devices in effective positlon, a motor for rotating the of the blank as the latter is rotated with the block.

7. In a machine for finishing hats, the combination of a block adapted to receive .a hat blank, a shaft on which the block is mounted, a collar slidable on the shaft but rotatable thereby, a plurality of gripping devices mounted on thecollar, stationary means on the shaft for engaging certain of said grip: ping devices, the movement of the slidable collar rendering the gripping devices effective to grasp the edges of the hat blank and to draw the blank into tight eng-agement with with the block, a motor` for rotating the shaft, w and a tool for operating on the blank as it is rotated with the block;

8. In a machine for finishing hats, the combination of a block adapted to receive and supporta hat blank, said block engaging substantially the entire Ainner, surface of the blank, the said block being of non-circular cross-section, means for rotating the block, a tool for operating on the outer surface of the .portion of the blank supported ou the block, ,and means rotatable with the block for movshaft, and a tool for operating on the surface mounted vertically to extend through an ing the tool relative to the axis of rotation of the block to insure that the tool may operate with uniform actionon the blank.

9. A machine for finishing hats, which comprises the combination of a block adaptedvfm to receive a hat blank, a second block adapted to cooperate therewith, a mounting for said second block movable toward and away fromsaid first block', a motor for effecting the movement ofthe second block, and stop mech-v anism for shutting down said motor when the second block reaches the desired limit of travel toward and away fromY said first block. 10. A machine for finishing hats, which comprises the combination of a block adapted to. receive a hat blank, a second block arranged to cooperate with the first, a carriage for' the second block, a resilient mounting for said block onvsaid carriage, guideways for said carriage in its movement. toward and away from said first block, a motor for moving said carriage toward and away from said first block, and limit switches at each end of thepath of travel of the carriage engageable thereby to stop the motor when-the carriage hasmoved to the desired limit of travel in either direct-ion. v

ll. A machine for finishing hats, which comprises the combination of a table, a shaft projecting through an opening in the table, a block mounted on the shaft above the table and adapted to receivea hat blank, vertical guideways above the block, a carriage movable in the guideways, a block mounted on the carriage and movable thereby into and out of cooperating relation with the first block, power means for moving the carriage in both directions, and automatic means for stopping the carriage at the desired limit of travel in either direction.

12. A machine for finishing hats, which comprises the combination of a table, a shaft projecting through an opening in the table, a block mounted on the shaft and adapted to' receive a hat blank, a plurality of gripping devices disposed about the periphery of said block, means movable lengthwise of the 'shaft to cause the gripping devices to grip the edge of ablank placed on the block and to move said device in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft to drawthis blank into tight engagementwith the block, the said means bei ing operable through the opbningin the table, a treadle for operating said means, and means for locking said 'treadle in a position" lof, to hold said gripping devices in effective position.

13. A machine for finishing hats, which comprises the combination of a table, a shaft 125 opening in the top of said table, a block mounted on the shaft above the table and adapted to receivea hat blank, gripping devices disposed about the periphery ,of the block, means operablethrough the openingx 130 in said table to cause said gripping devices to grip the edges of the blank and to move said devices in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft to draw said blank into tight engagement with the block, guideways disposed above the block, a second blockadapted to cooperate with the first mounted in said guide-4 ways and movable toward and away from` said first block, means for rotating said shaft Vand devices, a carriage on the top of the table movable toward and away from the first block, and means mounted on said carriage for performing a finishing operation, on the blank in place on the first block.

14. In a hat finishing machine, the combination of a block, a plurality of gripping devices around the block adapted to grip the edge of a blank in place on the block, and means for causing the devices to grip said blank and to move in a direct-ion parallel to the axis of the block to stretch the blank on the block.

'15. In a hat finishing machine, the combil nation of a block, a shaft on which the block is mounted, a plurality of gripping devices mounted on the shaft at one side of the block and having 'co-operating gripping `partsy adapted to grip the edge of a blank in place on the block, and means for causing the said parts to grip the blank and for moving the devices parallel to the'shaft to stretch the blank on the block.

16. In a hat finishing machine, the combifl nation of a block, a shaft on which the block is mounted, a plurality of gripping devices mounted on the shaft at one side of the blockand having co-operating gripping parts adapted to grip the edge of a blank in place on the block, means for causin the said parts to grip the blank and for moving the devices parallel to the shaft to stretch the blank on the block, and means for rotating the shaft, the block and devices moving with it.

17. In a hat finishing machine, a block, a vertical shaft on which the block is mounted,

" 1a plurality of gripping devices mounted on combination of a block adapted to receive a the shaft below the block and havin co-v A operating jaws extending beyond the e ge of the block, and means for operating the devices -to cause the jaws to grip the ed e of a blank on the block and to move the evices parallel to the shaft to stretch the blank on the block.

18. In a machine for finishing hats, the

waaeci group of gripping devices, and a tool having a traveling operating surface for acting on the outer surface of the blank on the block 19. In a hat finishing machine, a\block forreceiving and supporting` a hat blank, gripping devices for stretching the blank over the block, means for rotating the block and the devices while the latter grip the blank, and a tool having a traveling` working surface adapted to operate on the exterior of the.

blank in place on the block. i

20. In a hat finishing machine, a noncircular block adapted to receive and support a hat blank, means for drawing the blank over the block and holding it taut thereon, means for rotating the block and the said drawing means, a tool having a traveling operating surface adapted to operate on the surface of the blank in place on the block,

and means for moving the tool toward and away from the block as the latter rotates.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUIS PLATT. 

